Free paper-shredding event open to households
State Reps. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, and Abigail Salisbury, D-Swissvale, are teaming up for a free document shredding event from 9 a.m. to noon May 3 at the former Westinghouse site, 1310 Beulah Road, Churchill.
The event will take place weather permitting.
Vehicles should not line up before 8:30 a.m.
Only paper will be accepted — no magazines or newspapers. The paper must be in paper bags or standard-size trash bags; boxes and plastic totes will not be accepted.
There is a limit of two bags per vehicle. This service is for households only — no businesses, please.
Participants are encouraged to donate an unexpired, nonperishable food item for distribution to local pantries.
For details, contact McAndrew’s office at 77 Universal Road, Suite 1, in Penn Hills at 412-793-2448.
Volunteers needed to help clean up greenway site
The Friends of Churchill Valley Greenway is looking for volunteers to help from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 with a cleanup of the greenway area in Penn Hills.
Helping hands are needed for litter picking as well as heavy lifting at the former country club site, 800 Beulah Road.
Volunteers are welcome to pitch in for an hour or two or stay the entire day. The Allegheny Land Trust is hosting the cleanup.
Gloves and garbage bags will be provided. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and should consider wearing protective layers that can get dirty. Bring a reusable water bottle. A restroom will be available.
Children are welcome to help but must be accompanied by an adult.
The event will take place rain or shine but will be canceled if there are thunderstorms.
Participants should park in the upper parking lot and sign in at the registration table to pick up your gloves, bags and a map of the cleanup site.
To register, visit alleghenylandtrust.networkforgood.com/events/83173-earth-day-cleanup-at-churchill-valley-greenway.
Rodi Road cleanup set for April 26
The Penn Hills Community Development Corporation is organizing a cleanup of Rodi Road from 9 to 11 a.m. April 26.
Anyone who would like to help is encouraged to show up.
Gloves, bags and safety vests will be provided.
Bring your own water.
3-day thrifting event scheduled
Hebron Church is hosting a Thrift-A-Thon fundraiser from April 24-26 at the church, 10460 Frankstown Road, Penn Hills.
There is a $10 entry fee on Early Bird Thursday, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
Entry is free on Friday, and the event will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, the last day of the fundraiser, patrons can fill a bag for $10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Snacks and beverages also will be available for purchase.
All proceeds will benefit the church’s Family Life ministry.
Vaping presentation open to district parents
The Penn Hills School District is offering a presentation on vaping for parents of K-12 students from 6 to 7 p.m. April 24 at the high school, 309 Collins Drive.
Adagio Health will be on hand to discuss how the vaping epidemic might be affecting one’s child.
The presentation will cover:
• Current vaping statistics;
• How vapes work;
• Where youths are hiding and concealing devices;
• Health concerns related to vaping;
• How to talk to one’s child about vaping;
• Review Tabocco Free Adagio Health programming.
Art show to spotlight students’ talents
The community is invited to attend a free Student Art Show from 4 to 6 p.m. April 25 at Penn Hills High School, 309 Collins Drive.
Works will include drawings, paintings, sculptures and crafts.
Community invited to Arbor Day celebration
The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission is planning its seventh annual Arbor Day celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. April 26 at Duff Community Park in Penn Hills.
The community is invited to help plant 15 new trees in the park, which is located near the Penn Hills Municipal Center along Duff Road.
The rain date will be April 27.
The event will include giveaways of tree seedlings, free refreshments and face painting and nature crafts for children.
The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission also will be selling hats and T-shirts.
Speaker to discuss Jewish history in Verona area
Featured Local Businesses
The Verona Historical Society’s 2025 Speaker Series will feature a presentation by Eric Lidji of the Heinz History Center at 7 p.m. May 15 in the Verona Municipal Building, 736 E. Railroad Ave.
Lidji, director of the center’s Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives, will discuss “Jewish History in the Verona and Sandy Creek Area.”
The Verona Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the municipal building.
Programs or speakers are scheduled each month to discuss past and present historical events. Meetings are open to the public.
Mark your calendars: The June 19 presentation by John Schaal is titled “Tribute to Coach Joe Zelek, Twin Borough Apaches and the Verona High School Panthers.”
To learn more about the organization, visit veronahistory.org.
Car show to benefit pet adoptions
The Head Turners Pittsburgh car group will host a car show from noon to 4 p.m. May 14 at Community College of Allegheny County’s Boyce Campus.
The cost for car registration is $10. Proceeds will benefit Tiny Cause rescue and foster service in Vandergrift.
The afternoon will include entertainment by DJ Never Nice, a bake sale and food vendors, basket raffles and a 50-50, trophies and dash plaques and driver bags for the first 100 cars to register.
The Boyce Campus is at 595 Beatty Road in Monroeville.
For details, email Thompsonjt1018@gmail.com.
Driving course open to 55 and older
Seniors for Safe Driving is offering an upcoming course for motorists 55 and older from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. June 10 at the Penn Hills Senior Center, 147 Jefferson Road.
The PennDOT-approved course is an opportunity for older motorists to refresh their driving skills and their knowledge of the rules of the road.
There is no testing or behind-the-wheel driving. Participants who complete the course can receive a three-year discount of no less that 5% on their auto insurance.
Course highlights include one’s health and driving performance; effects of medication and alcohol on driving; yielding and intersections; strategies for safe passing and managing one’s speed; keeping up with vehicle technology; preventive ways to reduce driver distractions;, proper use of safety belts, air bags and anti-lock brakes; defensive driving tactics and sharing the road; dealing with aggressive drivers and road rage situations; and the latest information on traffic laws and regulations.
The cost is $17.
To register for a class, call 800-559-4880 or 724-283-0245 or go online at SeniorsForSafeDriving.com.
Upcoming meetings
Upcoming municipal and school district meetings include:
• Council: 7 p.m. May 5 (nonvoting meeting) and 7 p.m. May 12 (regular meeting), in Council Chambers at the government center, 102 Duff Road;
• Library Board: 7 p.m. April 30 and May 28, at Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road;
• Zoning Hearing Board: 7 p.m. May 28, in Council Chambers;
• Planning Commission: 7:30 p.m. May 22, in Council Chambers;
• Penn Hills School Board: 6 p.m. April 29 and May 28 (regular public voting meetings), Sen. Jay Costa Media Center at Linton Middle School, 260 Aster St.
To check for cancellations, agendas or other changes to the municipal meeting schedule, scroll down to the bulletin board section of Penn Hills’ homepage at pennhillspa.gov or sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts.
To sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts, visit savvycitizenapp.com/signup or download the app on your mobile phone.
Municipal, school district meetings viewable online
Want to stay informed about the municipality and school district you live in and the decisions made by people you elect to office?
Both entities livestream their meetings online.
• Penn Hills Council livestreams its monthly meetings on YouTube @PennHills TVONLINE. Past livestreams of meetings also are available to view. Check them out at youtube.com/@PennHillsTVONLINE/featured.
• The Penn Hills School District livestreams its monthly school board meetings on its website at https://www.phsd.org/our-district/school-board/live-stream-and-video-archive. Past meetings also are available. Among the videos are the school board’s regular public voting meetings, HR/Policy and Finance Committee meetings, and Athletic Advisory, Safety/Buildings & Grounds and Curriculum Committee meetings.
Community invited to learn about Haitian culture
Haitians in Pittsburgh United invites the community to a cultural event from 3 to 8 p.m. June 21 at the Blackridge Civic Association Clubhouse, 1200 Beulah Road, Penn Hills.
Featured Local Businesses
The event is an opportunity for people to learn about the Haitian culture through art, literature, music, games, food and more.
Attendees will be able to immerse themselves in the beauty of Haiti and connect with fellow community members and authors who will spotlight the country’s history.
For details, email HaitiansUnitedPittsburgh@gmail.com.
The event is free, but reservations are required through eventbrite.com. To make a reservation, visit https://tinyurl.com/vxyz26en.
Eastbound I-76 ramp restrictions set through November
Restrictions on the ramp from Rodi Road to eastbound Interstate 376 are underway through late November, according to PennDOT.
The ramp is reduced to an 11-foot width around the clock for the duration of the project.
Crews are conducting shoulder reconstruction, concrete curb and median replacement, and roadway rehabilitation work.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution while traveling through the construction zone.
Taste of Two Towns tickets available
Tickets are available for Oakmont Carnegie Library’s annual Taste of Two Towns event.
Interested parties can purchase tickets on the Oakmont Carnegie Library website for $65.
The event is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. May 4. In addition to food and tasting selections from Oakmont and Verona, the event will feature door prizes and raffles. Proceeds will benefit the library.
Details will be released closer to the date of the event about which restaurants will participate.
Youths encouraged to apply for summer job program
Applications are being accepted through June 6 for Allegheny County’s 2025 Learn & Earn Summer Youth Employment Program. The program is open to youths ages 14 to 24.
Since its inception in 2014, the program has served over 13,500 young people, investing more than $14.3 million in wages. The initiative helps participants gain real-world experience and build essential skills in fields such as health care, business, public service and the trades.
This summer, 1,000 spots are available in three age categories:
• Discovery, for ages 14 and 15, focuses on career exploration, job shadowing, and work readiness training to help younger participants build a strong foundation. The starting wage is $10 per hour.
• Experience, for those 16 to 18, provides real-world work experience and college preparation activities to help youth develop valuable skills. Participants will earn $12 per hour.
• Advancement, for those 18 to 24, connects young adults to apprenticeships, preapprenticeships and industry-led training programs, giving them a direct path to high-demand careers. This group will earn $15 per hour.
For eligibility requirements and to access an online application, visit jobs4summer.org. Interested youths also can visit any of the in-person application support center locations throughout Allegheny County and the city of Pittsburgh.
Last year, 250 businesses participated in Learn & Earn. Those interested in hosting a Learn & Earn participant this summer can contact Markese Long, director of Career Pathways, at mlong@partner4work.org.
Dollar Bank Foundation offering $10,000 scholarship
The Dollar Bank Foundation is offering a $10,000 college scholarship to one student in each of the financial institution’s three markets — Greater Pittsburgh, Greater Cleveland and Greater Hampton Roads.
The scholarship will be doled out as $2,500 per year over four years.
Students from the class of 2025 must submit an essay answering the following: What would you like to see change in your community? How can financial institutions work with community partners to achieve this?
The essay must be typed in English and follow MLA format (Times New Roman font, 12-point font size and double-spaced), contain no fewer than 1,000 words and be the original work of the submitting student. Submissions using artificial intelligence will be disqualified. To be eligible, all parts of the question must be answered.
Essays are due by 5 p.m. May 16 via email to PublicAffairs@dollarbank.com and must be sent as an attachment — as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or as a PDF file. Any essay sent in the body of the email will not be considered.
To register and apply for the scholarship, visit Dollar.Bank/ScholarshipContest.
For questions, email PublicAffairs@dollarbank.com.
Pet walk to benefit rescues planned for Boyce Park
Featured Local Businesses
The Wildflower Pet Walk, formerly the Friends of Jupiter Pet Walk, will be held April 27 at the Tanglewood Shelter on Pierson Run Road at Boyce Park.
The event starts at 9 a.m., with the walk beginning at 10, and will take place rain or shine. It includes a 1-mile walk, basket raffle, pet vendors, pet photos, food truck and local rescues. New dog and cat items will be collected for rescues.
Walk participants must register and sign a release. People may walk with or without a pet. All dogs must be leashed, licensed and vaccinated, and be people and dog friendly.
Proceeds benefit local rescues including Wildflowers Sanctuary, East Coast Bulldog Rescue, Homeless Cat Management Team and Bridges from Kuwait.
For details and how to get involved, visit amongthewildflowerssanctuary.com or email amongthewildflowerssanctuary@gmail.com.
Flaherty memorial golf outing
The third annual Peter Flaherty IV Memorial Golf Outing will take place July 27 in Penn Hills.
Flaherty, a 2018 Gateway graduate, died in 2021 of complications related to type 1 diabetes. Proceeds benefit the Flaherty Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is distributed to seniors graduating in 2026. Since the event’s inception in 2023, it has generated about $15,000 in scholarships.
The outing will begin at 8 a.m. (registration at 7 a.m.) at the 3 Lakes Golf Course, 6700 Saltsburg Road, Penn Hills. The cost is $100 per golfer. Lunch will follow at the Pitcairn Park Building around 1:30 p.m.
Register online at Zeffy.com/ticketing/peter-flaherty-iv-2025-memorial-golf-0uting.
For details, email jbreid26@gmail.com or call 412-584-6811.
Group offers support for weight loss
All are welcome to join the men and women at Oakmont TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) who are learning how to lose weight.
With in-person meetings, rewards, support and encouragement, we gain knowledge of healthy eating and exercise.
You may visit with no obligation Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. in Oakmont. Weigh-in is private followed by a brief business meeting, sharing time, and educational program all ending by 7:15.
There is well-lit parking, wheelchair accessibility and security.
For details, call 412-828-3854 or email jmjkwj@gmail.com.
Convention center events
The following events are scheduled at the Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.:
• May 2-4: Tattoos, Booze & Tacos Fest — For details, visit Gratzieventures.com/tattoos-booze-tacos-expo.
• May 16-18: Main Line Autograph Show — Featuring local and national sports figures. For details, visit MainLineAutographs.com/pittsburgh-show.
• May 24-25: Mega Reptile Expo — Event offers thousands of reptiles and exotic pets.
• May 24-25: Steel City Cannabis Convention — Event for those 18 and older brings together investors, cannabis and hemp traders, as well as researchers and lawmakers.
• May 29-31: P.A.N. Coin Show — Event held twice a year by the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists offers collectors and dealers a platform to buy, sell and trade coins, paper money, tokens, medals and bullion.
For more information, visit MonroevilleConventionCenter.com.